Safety device for brake-lever spreaders



Aug. 7, 1928. 1,679,589

s. J. sTRlD SAFTY DEVIGE-FOR BRAKE LEVER SPREADERS Filed Sept. 30. 1926 17% f, *117 15 .15 7 j/ g' 16 'f 16 f I 10 14 V Patented Aug. 7, 1928.

UNITED STATES' 1,679,589 PATENT OFFICE.

SVEN J. STBID, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB T FEED MATHEWS, OF CHICAGO,

' ILLINOIS.

SAFETY D'EVICE FOR BRAKE-LEVER SPBEADEBS.

Application filed September 30, 1926. Serial No. 138,785.

This invention relates to the art of railway brake equipment, and has reference more particularly to an improved Safety device for the rod or bar that connects the lower ends of the two brake levers on a truck and underlies the spring plank, and is commonly known as the brake lever spreader.

Heretofore, so far as I am aware, the

safety device for this purpose has consisted of a generally U-shaped hanger riveted or bolted to the spring plank and depending from the latter, through which the spreader extends so that, in the event that the spreader accidentally becomes disengaged from the lower end of either lever it willi be caught by the Safety device and prevented from dropping onto the track.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive and highly eflicient Safety device which may be easily and quickly and permanently connected to the spring plank without requiring the use of extraneous fastening devices.

My infention, in several practical forms in which it may be embodied, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of the brake lever spreader with the spring plank in transverse section, and my improved Safety device applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, omitting the spreader and lever, showing another u form of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a Vertical section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

F ig. 5 is a View similar to Figs. 2 and 3 showing still another form of the invention;

and

Fig. 6 is a Vertical section on the line 6-6 of FiO'. 5.

Refjerring to the drawing, and describing first the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2, 10 designates the usual spring plank of a railway truck, 11 designates` the brake levers, and 12 designates the brake lever spreader consisting of a rod or bar underlying the spring plank 10 and articulated at its ends to the lower ends of the brake levers 11.

13 designates each of a pair of U-shaped hangers bent to form from a rod section. In applying these hangers to the spring plank,

Il a pair of holes 14 are drilled or otherwise to form a hook 26, while the offset upper end formed in the side flanges of' the latter, and through these holes the offset upper end portions 15 -of lthe hanger arms are inserted.

.Then the ends of the offset portions are hamof the limbs thereof are twisted, through 'a right angle, forming Shoulders 20, and are inserted through slots formed in the bottom wall' of the spring plank adjacent to the flanges thereof, extending upwardly along the inner surface of the side Wall, the .extreme upper portion of eachv limb being then hammered down over the upper edge of the side wall, from the position shown ni dotted lines to that shown in full lines, forming hooks 21. o

In the form of the invention illustrated in Flgs. 5 and 6, the hanger 22 is bent to form from a section of vStrap iron, and the upstanding limbs 23 and 24 thereof are twisted or warped through a right angle forming Shoulders 25, and the limb 23 is extended up across the outer side of the side ,wall of the spring plank with its upper end portion bent down over the upper edge of sald wall 27 of the other limb is extended throu h a slot 28 formed in the corner portion o the spring plank and engages the upper face of the bottom Wall of the spring plank.

In all cases the brake lever spreader. 12 extends through the pair of hangers, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, said hangers serving to catch and sustain the spre'ader bar against dropping to the track in the event of accidental disconnection from the brakebeam at either end.

The main advantage of my invention, as compared'with safety devices for the same purpose heretofore used, is that it entirely obviat-es the use of rivets, bolts or other 1M fastening devices, and hence is cheaper, easier and quicker to apply, and fully as permanent and reliable in the performance of its function as the riveted or bolteid hangers heretofore used. ll.

In all of the forms shown the hooks and shouiders of the limhs of the hangers so engage the spring plank that it is impossible for the hangers to jar loose.,

I claimi 1. The combination with an apertured spring plank, of a. hrahe lever spreader Safety device consisting of a hanger through which the spreader extends, said hanger having an attaching portion thereof passed through the aperture of said spring plank and bent into interlocking position with re- Iation thereto`` 2. The combination with an apertured spring tank, of a hrahe iever spreader Safety evice consisting of a Ufshaped imose hanger through which the spreader extends, said hanger having its arms passed through the apertures of said spring plank and hent into interlocking position With relation thereto.

3. The combination with an apcrtui'ed spring plank of U-form in cross-section, of a hrake iever spreader Safety device consisting of a U-shaped hanger through which the spreader extends, said hanger having its arms passed through the apertures of said spring plank and at their upper ends hent over the upper edges of the side walls thereof.

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